• Home
• Hot Sales!
• VGB Drain Recalls

 The Candy Cane - A Sign of the Season

 One of the most familiar symbols of the holidays is the enduring and humble candy cane.  The subject of many stories, some true, and some indulged, the iconic candy cane has been a fixture during this festive season for as long as any of us can remember.

The candy cane first appeared in the 17th century.  Initial accounts describe a straight, stick-like hard confection.  The first candy canes to showcase the now familiar shape are credited to a 1670 choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral who bent the sugar sticks into canes like a shepherd's crook and gave them out to children to keep them quiet during services.

 All accounts of early candy canes also show and describe an all-white treat.  Stripes didn't begin to appear until the early 1900's.  Many stories and reasons are given for the traditional red stripes, but no one really knows for sure why or who exactly added them.  Candy canes were mass- produced beginning in the 1950's when a machine was invented expressly for that purpose by a man named Gregory Keller who also, quite interestingly, happened to be a Catholic Priest.

Please enjoy your December Lifeline Newsletter, exclusively from WMS Aquatics.  And from all of us at WMS, we wish for each of you a safe and happy holiday season.  May you and yours endure and prosper in the coming season and for years to come - just like the humble candy cane.

 Just Say No! to Texting on Duty

 An issue that has attracted significant media attention this year is the distressing trend of lifeguards being "caught" texting, talking on, or otherwise being distracted by cell phones and other electronic devices while on duty.  Of course, this causes great concern among facility operators, patrons, and the lifeguard profession.  Of paramount importance to the success of a well-trained lifeguard is his or her ability to remain focused and attentive while supervising swimmers.  As most of us already know, training standards for lifeguards recommend ten second scanning cycles of responsibility zones - certainly not enough time to send or view even a short text message.

Text messaging and other inattentive behavior is simply not acceptable for lifeguards.  Yet in 2010, three deaths so far have been directly attributed to texting on duty.  Regular reports by media outlets across the nation reported cases of inattentive lifeguards seen texting, sometimes while the swimmers they were supposed to be protecting were in distress and needed assistance.  Bernard J. Fisher II, Director of Health and Safety at the American Lifeguard Association was quoted in a September 29, 2010 article in the New York Times as saying "lives are being endangered, if not already lost, because of text messaging."

 Why is this becoming a problem?  Many lifeguards are seasonal, college-aged, and relatively low-paid employees.  They have grown up in the "information age" and utilize cell phones and other electronics as a social outlet.  Many report a feeling of "being connected" that is reinforced by frequent interaction with others through their devices.  Today's youth are more comfortable with technology and its capabilities than any generation before.  But that is no excuse for endangering the lives of others through inattentiveness.

 Texting and cell phone use have become a major issue at many facilities as a result.  Many operators report frequent problems and increasingly strict policies, up to and including not allowing devices at work at all - including during breaks - and terminating employees found in violation.  Some facilities have even gone to the extent of making employees sign contracts regarding cell phone policies in the workplace.  Still other facilities have no policy at all and have so far failed to acknowledge the critical nature of this issue.

 As an industry, we have a duty to provide as safe and secure an environment and experience as possible.  It is essential that staff is trained to properly assess and react to or avert risks to the facility, themselves, and clients.  To bestow confidence with staff and clients, it is also critical to look and act professional at all times in the workplace.

 The American Lifeguard Association reports the chances of drowning at a "guarded" beach or pool are 1 in 18,000,000.  That's a powerful statistic and a credit to lifeguards and the training provided them by our industry.  Let's keep it that way and say no to texting and cell phones in the workplace.

 To view a well-known report on this topic by CBS News and the Early Show, click now.

   ADA Compliance - Is Your Facility Impacted?

The long-anticipated revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act have been released and the compliance deadline is March 15, 2012.  Is your facility affected by these new regulations?  Find out by clicking here now.

 Most of the revisions have to do with accessibility standards, both in new and existing facilities.  For a quick fact sheet on the 2010 ADA Revisions, here's a link.

   Triathlon Training Programs - A Growth Opportunity

 Participation in triathlons is at an all time high in the U.S.  Fueled by the continuing trend of increasing societal interest in health and fitness, growth in triathlons is creating new opportunities for aquatics facilities.

 Triathlons burst onto the American consciousness during the 2000 Olympic Games.  A first-time Olympic event, NBC's coverage of the women's tri attracted 111 million viewers.  Since then, increased media attention and an increase in the number of races being held across the country have created tremendous growth in interest and participation.  The biggest increase in races is in the sprint category - shorter races in all three disciplines (swimming, biking, and running) that attract a broader range of athletic capabilities.  Sprint races have nearly doubled since 2004, from 818 to 1393 events in 2009.

 A recent study by the Sporting Goods Manufacturer's Association (SGMA) from May 2010 reports that 1,208,000 Americans participated in at least one traditional triathlon in 2009.  That represents a 51.4% growth since 2007!  The largest growth sector of adult participants is the 30-49 age group representing 65% of all modern triathletes.  Other pertinent statistics include:

                 Average Age:     38                           Married:  63%

                Male:  59.6%                                     Female:  39.5%

                White Collar:  49%                           Average Income:  $126,000

 You'll find a complete demographic profile of the modern triathlete here.

 As a result of increased interest and availability, demand for training has predictably skyrocketed.  Many new triathlete are seeking assistance in both physical and technical aspects of competition and training.  Many facilities have created individualized training programs as well as group classes and support.

 As the race season is over for the year in many regions, now is a great time to consider offering or expanding your facility's program for triathlon training.  The winter months are a great time to improve swimming technique and endurance in a controlled setting, as well as maintaining overall physical fitness and strength.  A complete program will also provide nutritional recommendations and tips for mental strategies.  You may even want to consider training programs for other competitive races that are climbing in popularity as well including duathlon (run-bike-run), aquabike (bike-swim-bike), and aquathlon (run-swim-run).